Pliers-like tool and process for curing phimosis

ABSTRACT

A pliers-like tool has handles and upturned blades. Moving the handles together spreads the upturned blades. With the blades inserted into a foreskin opening, prior to spreading the blades away from each other, the foreskin can be stretched. A ratchet extending between the handles retains the blades in a spread apart condition within the foreskin to expand it. Stretching the foreskin opening for about 30 minutes twice a day for 2-3 weeks is enough to expand it to cure phimosis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] A pliers-like tool spreads the foreskin to stretch it and curephimosis.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Although true phimosis, where the whole penis is covered withforeskin and the glans are not exposed at all, even at the time oferection, can be cured through an orthopedic operation that cuts theexcess foreskin and widens the foreskin opening, there has been theproblem that, in addition to the fact that the operation cost issignificantly high, the cost of aftercare and medicine mount up, makingthe monetary burden expensive.

[0005] A phimosis operation runs the risk that cutting too much foreskinmay cause tension in the foreskin at the time of erection, that thesutured section of the foreskin may become ugly in a keloidal state,etc., and that ejaculation may become impossible by cutting off a partof the erogenous zone together with the foreskin or damaging the sexualfeeling transmitting nerve. The pain will continue about two weeks afteran operation, and because the bandage cannot be removed, bathing andurinating become difficult, handicapping the life of the phimosispatient. Many phimosis patients are too ashamed to have an operation,anguishing and suffering with it secretly.

[0006] According to a phimosis manual “Phimosis Counseling Room forChildren” true phimosis is caused by the fact that the foreskin ring atthe foreskin tip enveloping the glans is too small, and there aredescriptions that “if the foreskin ring is expanded using forceps, theglans can be exposed from the opening.” and that “it is desired that aphimosis curer which can be easily used by non-specialists becommercially sold.”

[0007] When the present inventor manufactured a phimosis curer withwhich a phimosis patient can cure phimosis by himself and tried it witha patient, in about 2˜3 weeks of using it twice a day, in the morningand afternoon for 30 minutes each, the foreskin ring expanded, itsopening widened, and the glans became completely exposed.

[0008] The handle grips have to be held for as long as 30 minutes eachuse, and they need to be used twice a day continuously for 2˜3 weeks.Hand holding the grips becomes tiresome. Because of this the userbecomes reluctant to continue treatment and there have been cases wherethe user stops before any noticeable cure appears.

[0009] There has been a problem that in spite of the fact that a curingeffect is not achieved unless the grips are squeezed firmly enough tofeel some pain from the foreskin ring, there is a tendency to relievepain when self treating. The patient tends to loosen the force createdby the hand so that there will be no pain felt, and as a result notenough curing is achieved.

[0010] If the hand slips while squeezing the grips, the blades suddenlyclose under the elastic force of the spring applied to the blades,possibly hurting the penis glans and foreskin interior. The glansepidermis is the thinnest of all the body surfaces and becomes easilydamaged, and it is one of the parts where nerves are most concentrated.As a result, severe pain can be inflicted.

[0011] When the opening is widened by squeezing the tool to expand theforeskin ring, if the foreskin slides off the blades due to itselasticity, the foreskin and blades rub against each other and theforeskin may even be torn.

[0012] The use of pliers and pliers-like tools is old and there arenumerous varieties of them. While most pliers are used in a pinchingaction, they have been widely used to separate or press outwardly.Examples are to stretch shoes (F. L. Walker & C. F Smith, U.S. Pat. No.797,541, issued 15 Aug. 1905), to remove or expand piston rings (O.Winter, U.S. Pat. No. 855,031, issued 28 May 1907, and E. H. Kind, U.S.Pat. No. 1,319,007, issued 14 Oct. 1919), spread bottle nipples (G. E.Lovekin, U.S. Pat. No. 1,978,210, issued 23 Oct. 1934), as a dilator (A.G. Schenk, U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,406, issued 24 Mar. 1981), spacing bones(K. L. Cox, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,746, issued 5 Jul. 1988), cavitycreation (Gellman et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,547, issued 8 Aug. 2000),removing light bulbs (B. L. Christie, U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,658, issued 6Dec. 1994), etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The phimosis curer is a pliers-like tool constructed so that whenhandle grips are squeezed together against the elastic force of aspring, two jaws open and a pair of blades installed essentiallyperpendicularly to the tips of the jaws move away from each other. Thepair of blades are inserted into the foreskin opening and the grips aresqueezed to spread the blades and expand the foreskin ring and stretchthe foreskin opening.

[0014] The objective of the present invention is to make a tool that canbe used continuously for a long time without tiring the hand, toeffectively expand the foreskin ring to feel some pain for widening theforeskin opening, and eliminate the danger of hurting the glans orforeskin.

[0015] The present invention is characterized by the fact that in aphimosis curer a pair of blades move apart when hand grips consisting oftwo shafts or handles are squeezed together. The blades are insertedinto the foreskin opening of a phimosis and the foreskin opening iswidened. The curer is equipped with a ratchet mechanism between thehandles that allows the grips to move freely together, according to thedesired force applied to the grips, and to fix the grips inseparableagainst any force applied in the direction of separating the grips.

[0016] A pair of blades are inserted into the foreskin opening of aphimosis and the grips are squeezed together, causing the blades toseparate from each other. When the handle grips are squeezed togetherthe grips move freely as close as desired over the ratchet mechanism,the blades move apart from each other, the foreskin ring is expanded bythese blades, and the foreskin opening is widened. When the foreskinopening is increased by the blades, a force to move the blades closer toeach other is created by the elasticity of the foreskin ring, and withany other force tending to move the grips apart from each otherprevented. The grips become fixed inseparably by the ratchet mechanism.Even if the hand force squeezing the grips is released, the blades neverclose, and the foreskin ring stays expanded even without continuedsqueezing on the grips, and the foreskin opening is maintained.

[0017] If a large-diameter section with a curved circumferential face isformed on the blade tips, the foreskin will not slip off of the bladesand rub, and the force will not be concentrated in one area or partinside the foreskin. It will not wear out or develop a weal even afterlong-term use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the phimosis curer ofthe present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2(a) is a front view and (b) a top view showing the shape ofthe blades.

[0020]FIG. 3(a), (b), and (c) are top views showing the differentopen/close states.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the phimosis curer.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a top view of a first modified phimosis curer

[0023]FIG. 6 is a prospective view of a second modified phimosis curer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A phimosis curer 1 of the present embodiment is formed in apliers shape where a pair of blades 3R and 3L, having first inner endsand second outer ends, move apart from each other when handle grips 2Rand 2L, having first outer ends and second inner ends, are squeezedtogether after being inserted into the foreskin opening of a phimosis toexpand the foreskin and widen the foreskin opening ring.

[0025] The handle grips 2R and 2L are formed as a unit with jaws 4R and4L, respectively, having first inner ends and second outer ends. Thejaws are rotatably joined via a fulcrum pin 5 formed with blades 3R and3L erected upwardly perpendicularly on the respective outer ends.Embedded with the fulcrum 5 is a spring (not shown) that applies a forcein the direction to open the grips 2R and 2L, and close the blades 3Rand 3L.

[0026]FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the phimosis curer 1 seen from thefront or tip side, and FIG. 2(b) is a front top view showing the tip ofthe jaw. Formed on the upper tips of the blades 3R and 3L are enlargedball hooks, large-diameter sections, 3 a where the foreskin ring issecured so that the foreskin will not fall or slip off the blades 3R and3L when the foreskin opening of a phimosis is widened. The ball hooks 3a are formed in a near-spherical shape that forms spaces 3 b˜3 d in thetip side and both the front and rear sides when the blades 3R and 3L areclosed, so that the penis glands and foreskin interior are notsandwiched or pinched. The faces of the blades 3R and 3L and the ballhooks 3 a are finished, smooth curved surfaces treated with a platingprocess of a metal, or coated with a resin film inert and not harmful tothe human body, so that it will not damage the foreskin when it isinserted into the foreskin opening to widen it.

[0027] Installed on the handle grips 2R and 2L is a ratchet mechanism 6that permits the grips 2R and 2L to freely move together as close toeach other as desired and that can hold the handle grips 2R and 2Linseparable against a force operating to separate them from each other.When the blades 3R and 3L are inserted into the foreskin opening and thegrips 2R and 2L are squeezed together, because the handle grips 2R and2L move toward each other, they freely pass together unaffected by theratchet mechanism 6, and the blades 3R and 3L open by moving away fromeach other. Thus, the foreskin ring is expanded and the foreskin openingwidened. At this time, the opening between the blades 3R and 3L isselected to be about 4˜5 cm, the distance necessary for exposing thepenis glans.

[0028] When a force moves the blades 3R and 3L together, such as by theelasticity of the expanded foreskin ring or other force to move thehandle grips 2R and 2L apart, the handle grips 2R and 2L become securedtogether by engagement of the ratchet mechanism 6, and therefore theblades 3R and 3L do not move toward each other.

[0029] Ratchet mechanism 6 is equipped with a pawl 7, pivotably held bya second pivot pin on one handle grip 2R, and a rack 8, attached to theother handle grip. The rack 8 is designed to engage with the pawl 7 whenthe grips 2R and 2L move away from each other.

[0030] The curved rack 8 having an upper surface, a lower surface, firstend, second end, first and second side, is pivotably supported at itsfirst end on the handle grip 2L by a first pivot pin 9, that receives aforce or bias from a spring 10. The rack has cogs 11 formed on its firstside outer edge that mesh with the pawl 7 when the grips 2R and 2Lrotate in the direction to separate or open them (the direction in whichthe blades 3R and 3L close). The spring 10 urges the cogs on the racktoward the pawl 7.

[0031] A projection 12 is installed on one of the handle grips. Theprojection pops out and comes in contact with the bottom or lowersurface of the curved rack 8 by a plate spring 13 with a force appliedin the outward projection direction. A stopper 16 is also installed thatrestricts the fluctuation or pivot angle of the rack so that theprojection 12 is always positioned below the curved rack 8, even whenthe curved rack 8 fluctuates or pivots. The pivot of the curved rack 8in the arrow B direction is restricted by the pawl 7, and the pivot inthe reverse arrow B direction is restricted by the stopper 16.

[0032] Formed on the bottom or lower surface of the curved rack 8 in asliding surface 15 is a guide groove 14 that engages with the projection12 in the projected state. Engaged together they maintain the rack 8 andthe pawl 7 in the disengaged state. The sliding surface 15 maintains theprojection 12 in the depressed or “sunk-in” state and, when theprojection 12 is not in the guide groove 14 under spring pressure,permits the rack 8 and the pawl 7 to be in the engaged state.

[0033] When the projection 12 is engaged in the guide groove 14, becausethe rack 8 is coupled 2 the projection 12, the rack 8 and the pawl 7 aremaintained in the disengaged state against a force applied by the spring10. If the projection 12 sinks inside the grip 2R, engagement betweenthe guide groove 14 and the projection 12 is released, and the rack 8contacts with the pawl 7 and is kept in an engaged state by a forceapplied by the spring 10. The projection 12 is formed in a positionwhere it can be engaged with the guide groove 14 by pivoting the curvedrack 8 irrespective of the distance between the blades 3R and 3L.

[0034] Formed on the second outer end of the rack 8 is a tapered surface14 a where the projection 12, engaged within the guide groove 14, ispressed into the handle grips when the grips 2R and 2L pivot away fromeach other. When the grips 2R and 2L open (when the blades 3R and 3Lclose), engagement between the guide groove 14 and the projection 12 isreleased.

[0035] When squeezing the grips 2R and 2L from the open state, becausethe projection 12 is held inside the grip 2R by the sliding surface 15of the rack 8, the blades 3R and 3L can be opened to an arbitrary orselected distance until the pawl 7 and the curved rack 8 of the ratchetmechanism 6 engage.

[0036] When closing, if the curved rack 8 pivots or fluctuates againstthe elastic force of the spring 10, the projection 12 eventually engageswith the guide groove 14. The curved rack 8 and the pawl 7 aremaintained in the disengaged state. The grips 2R and 2L open by theelastic or resilient bias force of a spring (not shown but similar tothe spring 10 shown in FIG. 1) embedded in the fulcrum 5, and the blades3R and 3L close.

[0037] In operation, directing the right hand palm upward, the phimosiscurer 1 is put on it, the grip 2R is set in contact with the right handthumb cushion, the little finger and the third finger are put on thegrip 2L, and the thumb tip is kept free when holding the tool so thatthe curved rack 8 can be easily operated.

[0038] First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), closed blades 3R and 3L areinserted into the foreskin opening of a phimosis, and the grips 2R and2L are squeezed in the direction of the arrow A until the foreskin ringis hooked over the ball hooks 3 a on the outer tips of the blades.

[0039] At this time, the grips 2R and 2L can be moved close together.The ratchet mechanism 6, while keeping the curved rack 8 engaged withthe pawl 7 under spring applying force in the arrow B direction, permitsthe pawl to glide over the cogs. Because the blades 3R and 3L move awayfrom each other in the direction of parting, as shown by the arrow C,the foreskin ring becomes expanded, and the foreskin opening is furtherwidened.

[0040] If the force of the hand is released or loosened when the bladesare opened to a certain degree, the elastic force of the foreskin ringtends to close the blades 3R and 3L and, along with this, a spring forceoperates in the direction of making the grips 2R and 2L part from eachother.

[0041] At this time, because the curved rack 8 and the pawl 7 areengaged, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the grips 2R and 2L are fixed againstrotation and therefore the blades 3R and 3L are also fixed so that theforeskin ring is expanded and the foreskin opening is kept widenedwithout the need to continue holding the grips 2R and 2L with the hand.Because the blades 3R and 3L can be fixed at an optimal distance by theratchet mechanism 6, the curing process works well. Because the foreskinring is hooked to the ball hook 3 a, when it is expanded, the foreskinwill not slip off of the blades 3R and 3L. Also, because the ball hook 3a is formed in a ball or near-spherical shape, the force does notconcentrate on one area or part inside the foreskin, and therefore itwill never wear out or develop a weal even after long-term use.

[0042] After leaving it for 30 minutes, if the tip of the curved rack 8is pushed with the thumb in the arrow D direction in FIG. 3(b), againstthe elastic force of the spring 10, and let fluctuate or pivot so thatthe guide groove 14 of the curved rack 8 is positioned right above theprojection 12, as shown in FIG. 3(c), engagement between the curved rack8 and the pawl 7 is released and the projection 12 pops out to beengaged with the guide groove 14.

[0043] With the curved rack 8 and the pawl 7 maintained in thedisengaged state, the grips 2R and 2L open by rotating away from eachother, as shown by the arrow F, by a spring, such as 10, embedded in thefulcrum 5, and the blades 3R and 3L close by rotating closer to eachother in the arrow E direction as shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0044] Note that at the moment engagement between the curved rack 8 andthe pawl is released, even if the blades 3R and 3L suddenly close,because the ball hooks 3 a that hook the foreskin ring are formed in anear-spherical shape, with spaces 3 b˜3 d formed in its tip in both thefront and rear sides, neither the penis glans nor foreskin inside facewill be sandwiched or pinched by the ball hooks 3 a.

[0045] Once the blades 3R and 3L are about to completely close, theprojection 12 is guided by a decreasing depth tapered surface 14 a,formed on the outer end of the guide groove 14, down until it is sunk ordepressed inside the handle grip 2R.

[0046] With release of engagement between the projection 12 and theguide groove 14, the curved rack 8 engages with the pawl 7 by theelastic force of the spring 10, and the projection 12 is kept sunk inthe handle grip 2R by the sliding surface 15 of the rack 8.

[0047] Because the blades 3R and 3L are completely closed and the pawl 7and the curved rack 8 of the ratchet mechanism are engaged, there is noneed to switch the direction of the ratchet mechanism 6 the next time acuring treatment is performed.

[0048] When the phimosis curer 1 of the invention was tried by phimosispatients, using it twice, in the morning and afternoon, every day forabout 30 minutes each, without tiring one hand, the foreskin opening waswidened by expanding the foreskin ring effectively to feel some pain.The penis glans became completely exposed in 2˜3 weeks.

[0049] In this way, the penis glans can be exposed in a way close to thenatural growth process where the penis glans widen the foreskin ringalong with the growth of the penis without performing any surgicaloperation and the patient is not forced to undergo the operation risksand a handicapped life.

[0050] Because the open/close operation of the blades 3R and 3L can beperformed extremely smoothly and safely by the spring embedded in thefulcrum 5 and the ratchet mechanism 6 in this example, there is littledanger of hurting the penis glans that could occur with an excess forceoperating the grips 2R and 2L. Because the ratchet mechanism 6 isinstalled in the phimosis curer 1, the blades 3R and 3L never closesuddenly while in use, and therefore it will not hurt the penis glansthat are one of the thinnest and most fragile parts having the mostnerves concentrated on the body surface. Because the ball hooks 3 areformed on the outer tips of the blades 3R and 3L, the foreskin willnever be hurt by being rubbed, because spaces 3 b 18 3 d are formed withthe ball hooks 3 a, the penis glans will not be hurt by being sandwichedor pinched by the ball hooks 3 a.

[0051] Shown in FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of the phimosis curer ofthe present invention, where the same designations are assigned to theparts in common with those in FIGS. 1˜4. In a phimosis curer 21 of thisembodiment, a slit or slot 23 is formed along the central interiorlength of a curved rack 22 of a ratchet mechanism 6, and cogs 11 whichengage with a pawl 7 are formed inside the slit 23.

[0052] The slit 23 is formed with a width such that the curved rack 22can pivot or fluctuate so that the cogs 11 can engage/disengage with thepawl 7. If the curved rack 22 is pushed in the arrow G direction, thecogs 11 and the pawl 7 engage with each other so that grips 2R and 2L donot rotate in the opening direction (the direction in which the bladesclose). If the curved rack 22 is pushed in the arrow H direction,engagement between the cogs 11 and the pawl 7 is released so that thegrips 2R and 2L and blades 3R and 3L can rotate in either direction.

[0053] When holding the grips 2R and 2L with the right hand, the cogs 11and the pawl 7 can be engaged/disengaged by operating the end of thecurved rack 22 in the arrows G and H directions using the thumb.

[0054] Although it is desirable to install a spring in the pin 9 thatapplies a force in the direction to engage the curved rack 22 with thepawl 7, the pin 9 supports the curved rack 22 freely so as to bepivotable, this spring does not necessarily need to be installed.

[0055] The phimosis curer 1 is held in the right hand with the palmdirected upward, the grip 2R is put on the right hand thumb cushion, thelittle finger and the third finger are put on the grip 2L, and the thumbtip is kept free so that the curved rack 22 can be freely operated.

[0056] Then, the grips 2R and 2L are squeezed as shown with the arrow Aas the closed blades 3R and 3L are inserted into the foreskin opening ofa phimosis, and the foreskin ring is hooked onto the ball hooks 3 a atthe tip. At this time, because the grips 2R and 2L can be moved in thedirection to bring them closer and move the blades 3R and 3L away fromeach other, as shown with the arrow C, the foreskin ring is expanded towiden the foreskin opening.

[0057] When it is widened to a desired degree, if the curved rack 22 isfluctuated or rotated by the thumb in the arrow G direction to engagewith the pawl 7, the grips 2R and 2L become fixed from rotatation, andtherefore the blades 3R and 3L also become fixed, and the foreskin ringis expanded and the foreskin opening is maintained without continuing tohold the grips 2R and 2L with a hand. Because the blades 3R and 3L canbe fixed at the optimal distance apart for an individual, by the ratchetmechanism 6, the curing effect is good.

[0058] After leaving the phimosis curer for 30 minutes, if the tip ofthe curved rack 22 is pushed with the thumb in the arrow H direction,because the curved rack 22 rotates or fluctuates and its engagement withthe pawl 7 is released, the grips 2R and 2L rotate in the oppositedirection of the arrow A apart from each other, and the blades 3R and 3Lrotate in the opposite direction of the arrow C to become closertogether.

[0059] In this case, too, if ball hooks 3 a are formed on the tips orouter ends of the blades 3R and 3L, even if the blades 3R and 3Lsuddenly close at the moment when engagement between the curved rack 22and the pawl 7 is released, neither the penis glans, epidermis nor theforeskin inside surface will be sandwiched or hurt by the ball hooks 3a.

[0060] Shown in FIG. 6 is a third embodiment. In a phimosis curer 31 ofthis embodiment, handle grips 32R and 32L consist of two legs 33R and33L which are piano wires (spring elements) of 3˜4 mm in diameterpermanently bent in a near “U” shape or “V” shape but extending awayfrom each other to retain a spring force tending to separate the legs.Both legs 33R and 33L are permanently bent so that their ends cris-crosseach other forming jaws and are permanently bent up into blades havingtip ends in a hook shape 35. The tip parts 35 are on the ends of theoutwardly extending blades 34R and 34L. The ball hooks 35(large-diameter sections) hook the foreskin ring so that the foreskinwill not drop off the blades 34R and 34L when the foreskin opening of aphimosis is being widened.

[0061] The phimosis curer 31 consists of one integral spring elementthat is bent beyond its elastic limit to form the grips, legs, blades,and can also form the hook balls. The spring element extends between andjoins the first and second handle grips and extends beyond the grips toform the legs and blades. The handle grips are biased away from eachother by their commonly formed “V” or “U” shaped spring element bylimiting the permanent bend.

[0062] Installed on the grips 32R and 32L is a ratchet mechanism 36 thatpermits the grips 32R and 32L to be placed as close to each other asdesired according to a force operating in the direction of making thesegrips closer together and fix the grips inseparable against a forceoperating in the direction to part the grips from each other.

[0063] The ratchet mechanism 36 is equipped with a flat rack 37, havinga first side edge and a second side edge, attached rotatably to onefirst grip 32R, and formed on the rack 37 first side edge are cogs 38that engage with the other second handle grip 32L when the grips 32R and32L move in the direction to separate from each other.

[0064] The phimosis curer 31 is held in the right hand palm directedupward, the grip 32R is put on the right hand thumb cushion, the littlefinger and the third finger are put on the grip 32L, and the thumb tipis kept free so that the flat rack 37 can be freely operated. Then, thegrips 32R and 32L are squeezed as shown with the arrow J after theclosed blades 34R and 34L are inserted into the foreskin opening of aphimosis, and the foreskin ring is hooked to the ball hooks 35 at thetip of the blades. At this time, because the grips 32R and 32L can bemoved closer together, the blades 34R and 34L move apart from each otheras shown by the arrow K, the foreskin ring is expanded to widen theforeskin opening.

[0065] Then, when it is widened to a desired degree, if the flat rack 37is fluctuated or rotated by the thumb in the arrow M direction to engagewith the grip 32L, the grips 32R and 32L become fixed againstseparation, even if the force of the hand holding the grips 32R and 32Lis released or loosened, the blades 34R and 34L will not close, and theforeskin ring is expanded and the foreskin opening is widened as thespacing is maintained. Because the blades 34R and 34L can be fixed atthe optimal distance by use of the ratchet mechanism 36, according toindividual needs, the curing effect is good.

[0066] After leaving it fixed at the optimum spacing for 30 minutes, ifthe grips 32R and 32L are squeezed a little in the arrow J direction,because the force applied from the grip 32L to the cogs 38 of the rack37 is loosened, the rack 37 rotates by gravity in the opposite directionof the arrow M to come off, or by taking it off with the index finger,engagement with the grip 32L can be easily released.

[0067] Thus, the grips 32R and 32L rotate in the opposite direction ofthe arrow J to separate from each other, and at the same time the blades34R and 34L come closer together in the opposite direction of the arrowK.

[0068] With the ball hooks 35 formed on the tips of the blades 34R and34L, even if the blades 3R and 3L suddenly close at the moment theengagement between the rack 37 and the grip 32L is released, neither thepenis glans, epidermis nor the foreskin inside surface will besandwiched or pinched by the ball hooks 35.

[0069] The ratchet mechanisms 6 and 36 are not limited to the specificstructures of the embodiments.

[0070] Because the blades can be maintained in an open state by theratchet mechanism, even if the force exerted by hand holding the gripsis loosened, it has the excellent effect that the hand never becomestired even after long hours of its continuous use. The foreskin ring canbe expanded effectively to an optimum degree, until there is a feelingof some pain, to widen the foreskin opening, with there being no dangerof hurting the penis glans or the foreskin.

[0071] It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages ofthis invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to beunderstood that the present disclosure is illustrative only and thatchanges, variations, substitutions, modifications and equivalents willbe readily apparent to one skilled in the art and that such may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

1. A phimosis curer comprising; a first handle grip having a first endand a second end and a second handle grip having a first end and asecond end; a first jaw having a first end and a second end and a secondjaw having a first end and a second end; a first blade having a firstend and a second end and a second blade having a first end and a secondend; said first handle grip second end and said first jaw first end arejoined together; said second handle grip second end and said second jawfirst end are joined together; said first blade first end and said firstjaw second end are joined together; said second blade first end and saidsecond jaw second end are joined together; said first blade and saidsecond blade extend upwardly from said first jaw and said second jawrespectively so as to be insertable into a foreskin opening; said firsthandle grip and said first jaw are joined to said second handle grip andsaid second jaw such that moving said first handle grip and said secondhandle grip toward each other moves said first jaw and said second jawaway from each other; a ratchet means pivots between said first handlegrip and said second handle grip adjacent said first handle grip secondend and said second handle grip second end; said ratchet means isdesigned to selectively prevent said first handle grip and said secondhandle grip from moving away from each other; a first enlarged hookmeans on said first blade second end and a second enlarged hook means onsaid second blade second end to prevent said first blade and said secondblade from slipping out of a foreskin opening when said first blade andsecond blade are separated within a foreskin opening.
 2. A phimosiscurer as in claim 1 including: a fulcrum pin attaching said first handlegrip and said second handle grip together so that said first handle gripand said first jaw can be pivoted relative to said second handle gripand said second jaw.
 3. A phimosis curer as in claim 2 wherein: saidratchet means includes a curved rack with an upper surface, a lowersurface, a first side surface and a second side surface, a first end, asecond end, cogs, and a pawl; said curved rack first end is attached tosaid first handle grip second end by a first pivot pin; said pawl isattached to said second handle grip second end by a second pivot pin. 4.A phimosis curer as in claim 3 wherein: said curved rack is providedwith a slot along its interior length; said pawl fits within said curvedrack slot; said slot is wide enough to accommodate said pawl in both theengaged position, against said cogs on said curved rack when said firsthandle grip and said second handle grip are pivoted toward each other,and the disengaged position, away from said cogs on said curved rack,for permitting said first handle grip and said second handle grip to bepivoted away from each other.
 5. A phimosis curer as in claim 3 wherein:said curved rack is provided with one smooth side surface and oneirregular cog surface; said curved rack irregular cog surface pivotstoward said pawl to selectively engage said pawl with said irregularcogs, and away from said pawl to remove said curved rack from contactwith said pawl.
 6. A phimosis curer as in claim 3 wherein: said curvedrack lower surface has a guide groove; said second handle grip secondend has a spring-loaded projection; a stop is positioned on said secondhandle grip second end on said first side surface of said curved racksecond end and said pawl is positioned on said second side surface ofsaid curved rack to limit pivotal movement of said curved rack aboutsaid first pivot pin to keep said spring-loaded projection against saidcurved rack lower surface at all times.
 7. A phimosis curer as in claim6 wherein: said spring-loaded projection extends into said guide groovewhen said guide groove is positioned above it; said guide groovecontrols the pivotal movement of said curved rack about said first pivotpin when said projection is in said guide groove to maintain said pawldisengaged from said cogs on said curved rack.
 8. A phimosis curer as inclaim 7 wherein: said guide groove terminates in a decreasing depthtaper adjacent to said curved rack second end so that moving said firsthandle grip and said second handle grip away from each other pushes saidprojection from said guide groove by pressing said projection into saidsecond handle grip; resilient means bias said curved rack toward saidpawl to maintain said pawl in engagement with said cogs when saidprojection is released from said guide groove.
 9. A phimosis curer as inclaim 1 wherein: said enlarged hook means are in the general shape of aball with finished smooth curved surfaces and with spaces provided topreclude damage to the penis glands and from pinching the foreskin. 10.A phimosis curer as in claim 9 wherein: said enlarged hook means arecoated with an inert material not harmful to the human body.
 11. Aphimosis curer as in claim 1 wherein: said first handle grip and saidfirst jaw and said first blade and said first enlarged hook means areone integral part; said second handle grip and said second jaw and saidsecond blade and said second enlarged hook means are one integral part.12. A phimosis curer as in claim 3 wherein: a bias means with said firstpivot pin for biasing said cogs on said ratchet means curved rack towardsaid pawl.
 13. A phimosis curer as in claim 1 wherein: said first handlegrip and said first jaw and said first blade and said first enlargedhook means and said second handle grip and said second jaw and saidsecond blade and said second enlarged hook means are all one integralshaped spring element.
 14. A phimosis curer as in claim 13 wherein: saidfirst handle grip first end and said second handle grip first end areunited together; said first jaw and said second jaw crisscross eachother.
 15. A phimosis curer as in claim 13 wherein: said ratchet meanshas a flat rack having a first side edge and a second side edge; saidflat rack is attached to said second handle grip; cogs are formed alongsaid flat rack first side edge; said ratchet means is engaged byselectively placing said first handle grip into one of said cogs on saidflat rack first side.
 16. A phimosis curer as in claim 2 including: aspring with said fulcrum pin for biasing said first handle grip and saidsecond handle grip away from each other.
 17. A process for curingphimosis comprising: providing a pliers-like hand tool having a firsthandle grip and a second handle grip with attached first and second jawsrespectively and respective first blade and second blade joined to andextending outwardly from said first jaw and said second jaw so thatmoving said first handle grip and said second handle grip toward eachother moves said first blade and said second blade away from each other;providing a ratchet means between said first handle grip and said secondhandle grip; inserting said first blade and said second blade under aforeskin opening; squeezing said first handle grip and said secondhandle grip together moving said first blade and second blade apartstretching said foreskin; engaging said ratchet means preventing saidfirst handle grip and said second handle grip from separating and saidfirst blade and said second blade from moving closer together; holdingsaid foreskin in the stretched condition; retaining said ratchet meansengaged and said foreskin stretched for essentially thirty (30) minutesto elongate the foreskin opening; releasing said ratchet and moving saidfirst blade and said second blade together and removing said blades fromunder the foreskin opening.
 18. A process for curing phimosis as inclaim 17 additionally: providing a first hooking means on the outer endof said first blade and a second hooking means on the outer end of saidsecond blade; preventing the foreskin from slipping off of said firstblade and said second blade by inserting said first hooking means onsaid first blade and said second hooking means on said second bladeunder the foreskin opening prior to squeezing said first handle grip andsaid second handle grip together.
 19. A phimosis curer as in claim 18additionally: repeating said stretching steps once each morning and onceeach afternoon for two to three weeks.